Premature birth linked to high risk of ocular comorbidities in early childhood

Children born prematurely have an elevated risk of ocular comorbidities such as defective visual acuity, myopia and strabismus in early childhood, a study found.

“Visual deprivation can be attributed to prematurity of the visual system itself and diseases and complications that are well known to affect prematurely born infants,” the study authors said.

The study included 234 eyes of 117 children with gestational age of less than 37 weeks at birth. The children were assigned to three groups based on gestational age: 28 weeks or less (22 children), 29 to 32 weeks (57 children) and 33 to 36 weeks (38 children). Mean age at examination was 37.6 months.

Children underwent visual acuity testing with Lea symbols, anterior and posterior segment examination, refraction, orthoptic examination for strabismus, and measurements of anterior chamber depth, lens thickness and axial length.

Myopia was defined as less than 5 D of error. High myopia was defined as more than 5 D of error.

Study results showed that 62.4% of eyes had visual acuity better than 20/32.

In the 28 weeks or less group, 12.5% of eyes had high myopia, 22.5% had myopia and 33.3% had strabismus. In the 29 to 32 weeks group, 3.6% of eyes had high myopia, 18.9% had myopia and 24.1% had strabismus. In the 33 to 36 weeks group, 7.9% of eyes had myopia and 13.2% had strabismus.

Lens thickness was significantly greater in highly myopic eyes than in eyes with myopia and hyperopia (P = .01), the authors said.

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Source:

J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2012;49(4):236-241.